If you're trying to learn to sing like John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, there are some unique techniques you should focus on.

Darnielle has a distinctive nasally voice that he uses to great effect in his music. Here are some tips on how to emulate his style:

Focus on Nasality

Darnielle's voice is known for its nasality, which he uses to convey a sense of vulnerability and honesty in his lyrics. To achieve this sound, try singing through your nose instead of your mouth. You can also try holding your nose closed while singing to force the sound out through your nasal passages.

Experiment with Dynamics

Darnielle's songs often feature big dynamic shifts, moving from quiet, introspective verses to big, anthemic choruses. To learn to sing like him, try experimenting with your own vocal dynamics. Start by singing softly, then gradually increase the volume as the song progresses.

Get Personal with Your Lyrics

One of the hallmarks of Darnielle's songwriting is his ability to be intensely personal and introspective. To sing like him, try to connect with the lyrics on a personal level. Ask yourself what emotions you're trying to convey and focus on expressing them as clearly as possible in your singing.

Songs to Emulate

If you want to learn to sing like John Darnielle, it's important to study his songs. A few great ones to start with include "This Year," "No Children," and "Up the Wolves." Pay attention to his vocal style and how he uses his voice to convey emotion and meaning.

Singing Carrots Resources

To further enhance your singing skills, Singing Carrots provides great resources that can help you learn to sing like The Mountain Goats. Take the vocal range test to determine where your voice falls on the spectrum, then use the pitch accuracy test to help you hone your pitch. Use the vocal pitch monitor to see your sung notes on a virtual piano or check out Pitch Training, an educational music game designed to help you improve your pitch. Search songs based on your vocal range or explore the vocal ranges of famous singers to get a better sense of where you fit in. Finally, check out Singing Carrots' educational singing course to get more in-depth instruction on how to improve your singing skills overall.

With these tips and resources, you'll be well on your way to singing like John Darnielle and creating emotional, powerful music of your own.